Saturday, March 4

I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.

Isaiah 49:6b

God of Grace and God of Glory

God of grace and God of glory, On Thy people pour Thy power.
Crown Thine ancient church’s story, Bring her bud to glorious flower.

Refrain:
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the facing of this hour,
For the facing of this hour.

Lo! the hosts of evil ’round us, Scorn Thy Christ, assail His ways.
From the fears that long have bound us, Free our hearts to faith and praise.
[Refrain]
Cure Thy children’s warring madness, Bend our pride to Thy control.
Shame our wanton selfish gladness, Rich in things and poor in soul.
[Refrain]
Set our feet on lofty places, Gird our lives that they may be,
Armored with all Christ-like graces, In the fight to set men free.
[Refrain]
Save us from weak resignation, To the evils we deplore.
Let the search for Thy salvation, Be our glory evermore.
[Refrain]

This hymn was written by Harry Emerson Fosdick for the 1930 opening service of Riverside Church. This beautiful church was built near Harlem in New York City by John D. Rockefeller in the years between the two Great Wars as Fascism was growing in Europe and as the Great Depression was beginning. The words of the hymn still speak to the church today.

Dear Lord, help us be Your people, that we may be a light to the nations. Amen

Charlotte Fischer

Friday, March 3

Set your mind on God's kingdom and his justice before everything else, and all the rest will come to you as well.  So do not be anxious about tomorrow; tomorrow will look after itself. Each day has troubles enough of its own. 

Matthew 6: 33-34.

Is your glass half full... or half empty?  Do you see the bright side of things … or live with fear and anxiety?  Do you think people are generally good … or does evil lurk around every corner?  How we perceive the world affects everything we do, say, believe … it affects our health and every relationship we have.  

I heard a story of an elderly blind woman who was making the decision to move from her own home to an assisted living environment.  A man made arrangements for her to visit a nearby establishment and tried to ease the woman's fears.  But even before the visit, the blind woman surprised him by saying, "I know I'll love it there!"  The man was puzzled until the woman explained, "You see, I can choose to be happy and at peace with this transition, or I can choose to be miserable and upset and unhappy.  My attitude will make all the difference.  I choose to be happy."

I don't know the blind woman in this story, but I often think of her when I'm confronted with a big decision or am feeling anxious or frustrated.  I ask myself, "How do I want to be remembered? What example am I setting as I deal with daily life?"  Recently I heard the sad news of the passing first of Lois Cotton, and then, shortly thereafter, the passing of Lois Poston.  I live in Colorado now, so was unable to attend their memorial services, but I joined everyone who was remembering these dear Saints. I reflected on how much these wonderful ladies meant to our community, our church, and to me personally.  What an inspiration they were! I was so blessed to know them both. I will always remember their gracious, warm greetings, their special smiles, the way they took time to say hello and show genuine interest. You could always count on their participation in so many church projects, on their leadership, their wisdom and insights.  

Did they have troubles and disappointments in life? Of course! But it seems to me that both of these wonderful women chose to be happy, to do the best they could, to work for others, to have faith and live life to the fullest.  What an inspiration!  Thank you, dear Lois Cotton and dear Lois Poston!  

Dear God, thank you for the precious lives of Lois Cotton, Lois Poston, and others like them who make a difference in our world and touch so many lives.  Help me to find ways to continue their legacy of love and service.  Amen.

Diane Falconer

Thursday, March 2

The days of our life are seventy years, or perhaps eighty, if we are strong; even then their span is only toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.

Psalm 90:10

Why Worry?

Why should we worry about old age when we’re going to live forever? Although our lifespan on earth is brief, while here, most of us do worry. Mostly we don’t want our loved ones to have to take care of us. I’m so guilty. As the hymn says, Heaven is a land where we’ll never grow old. Even after the first 10,000 years we’ll only have just begun to sing God’s praises. Heaven is a land where we’ll never be departed from loved ones.

Here are seven (the perfect number) things we can do to help us turn away from worry:

Refocus!
Restart!
Readjust!
Reset!
Re-clarify!
Re-tune!
Realign!

Dear Heavenly Father, fill us with life anew so that we may love the way you love, and do what you would do always.

Sheryl McCristal

Ash Wednesday, March 01

From the 1996 Lenten Devotional

Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.’  Then I said, ‘Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.’  But the Lord said to me, ‘Do not say, “I am only a boy”; for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you.  Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.’  Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me, ‘Now I have put my words in your mouth.  See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.

Jeremiah 1:4-10

'And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.  He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’  Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’  The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren.  For nothing will be impossible with God.’

Luke 1:31-37

Prayers are following the sun around the world today as ecumenical communities gather to celebrate World Day of Prayer [which is always held on the first Friday in Lent, March 1 in 1996].

Haitian women, who wrote the [worship] service using the theme “God Calls Us To Respond," put their attention on how God has called people in the Bible. The calls to Jeremiah and Mary follow parallel structures and have elements commonly found in a call from God: encounter with God or God's messenger; an introduction; a commission to do or say something; and objection to the call because those called are honest about their limitations; consent (sometimes reluctantly); and reassurance that God will be with them and empower them as they risk to do God's work.

Jeremiah learned that he must tear down and destroy so that he could then build and plant something new. Mary listened to God's call, said “Yes” and offered a life in service of God's plan. God has a plan for you/me. As women of faith we can offer a ministry of listening. Often in the midst of competing voices it is difficult to discern God's voice. Is there some act of compassion, a voice for justice, a reassuring touch, an encouraging word that God is calling us to accept? God doesn't make mistakes in choosing messengers. God provides for the needs of those who respond and assures us we will not be alone.

Prayer: O God, Open our ears - open our hearts -- so we may listen and hear your call. Help us know how to discern your call and how to respond in faith and hope. May our actions show love, promote justice, proclaim your glory and give glimpses of the realm of God. Amen.

 Lois Poston, Friday, March 1, 1996